Abstract: Multiple stages of reactors form a bio-reforming reactor that generates chemical grade bio-syngas for any of 1) a methanol synthesis reactor, 2) a Methanol-to-Gasoline reactor train, 3) a high temperature Fischer-Tropsch reactor train, and 4) any combination of these three that use the chemical grade bio-syngas derived from biomass fed into the bio-reforming reactor. A tubular chemical reactor of a second stage has inputs configured to receive chemical feedstock from at least two sources, i) the raw syngas from the reactor output of the first stage via a cyclone, and ii) purge gas containing renewable carbon-based gases that are recycled back via a recycle loop as a chemical feedstock from any of 1) the downstream methanol-synthesis-reactor train, 2) the downstream methanol-to-gasoline reactor train, or 3) purge gas from both trains. The plant produces fuel products with solely 100% biogenic carbon content as well as fuel products with 50-100% biogenic carbon content.

Abstract: A bio-reforming reactor receives biomass to generate chemical grade syngas for a coupled downstream train of any of 1) a methanol-synthesis-reactor train, 2) a methanol-to-gasoline reactor train, and 3) a high-temperature Fischer-Tropsch reactor train, that use this syngas derived from the biomass in the bio-reforming reactor. A renewable carbon content of the produced gasoline, jet fuel, and/or diesel derived from the coupled downstream trains of any of 1) the methanol-synthesis-reactor train, 2) the methanol-to-gasoline reactor train, or 3) the high-temperature Fischer-Tropsch reactor train are optimized for recovery of renewable carbon content to produce fuel products with 100% biogenic carbon content and/or fuel products with 50-100% biogenic carbon content.

Abstract: A bio-reforming reactor receives biomass to generate chemical grade syngas for a coupled downstream train of a low-temperature Fischer-Tropsch reactor train that uses this syngas derived from the biomass in the bio-reforming reactor. A renewable carbon content of the produced gasoline, jet fuel, and/or diesel derived from the coupled downstream train the low-temperature Fischer-Tropsch reactor train are optimized for recovery of renewable carbon content to produce fuel products with 100% biogenic carbon content and/or fuel products with 50-100% biogenic carbon content. The low-temperature Fischer-Tropsch reactor train produces syncrude, transportation fuels such as bio-gasoline or bio-diesel, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A multiple stage synthesis gas generation system is disclosed including a high radiant heat flux reactor, a gasifier reactor control system, and a Steam Methane Reformer (SMR) reactor. The SMR reactor is in parallel and cooperates with the high radiant heat flux reactor to produce a high quality syngas mixture for MeOH synthesis. The resultant products from the two reactors may be used for the MeOH synthesis. The SMR provides hydrogen rich syngas to be mixed with the potentially carbon monoxide rich syngas from the high radiant heat flux reactor. The combination of syngas component streams from the two reactors can provide the required hydrogen to carbon monoxide ratio for methanol synthesis. The SMR reactor control system and a gasifier reactor control system interact to produce a high quality syngas mixture for the MeOH synthesis.

Abstract: An integrated plant that includes a steam explosion process unit and biomass gasifier to generate syngas from biomass is discussed. A steam explosion process unit applies a combination of heat, pressure, and moisture to the biomass to make the biomass into a moist fine particle form. The steam explosion process unit applies steam with a high pressure to heat and pressurize any gases and fluids present inside the biomass to internally blow apart the bulk structure of the biomass via a rapid depressurization of the biomass with the increased moisture content. Those produced moist fine particles of biomass are subsequently fed to a feed section of the biomass gasifier, which reacts the biomass particles in a rapid biomass gasification reaction to produce syngas components.

Abstract: An integrated plant is provided to improve carbon utilization of carbon molecules from gasified woody biomass to be converted into methanol. Detectors ensure a minimized sulfur content of less than 0.05% by dry weight of the woody biomass. A biomass gasifier reacts woody biomass in a rapid gasification reaction to produce a syngas composition having a ratio of hydrogen to carbon dioxide that is higher than needed for methanol synthesis. Parallel to the gasifier, a hydrocarbon reforming reactor provides a syngas composition having a ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide that is higher than needed for methanol synthesis. The combined syngas mixture from the biomass gasifier and the hydrocarbon reforming reactor comprises feed to a methanol synthesis plant, such that a majority of the carbon dioxide produced by the biomass gasification reaction and the hydrogen produced by the hydrocarbon reforming reactor are synthesized into methanol.

Abstract: A radiant heat chemical reactor is configured to generate chemical products including synthesis gas products. Two or more tubes in the radiant heat chemical reactor separate an exothermic heat source, such as flames and gas from a regenerative burner, from the endothermic reaction of the reactant gas occurring within the cavity of the refractory vessel. The exothermic heat source heats a space inside the tubes. One or more feed lines supply chemical reactants to the cavity area between an inner wall of the cavity of the refractory vessel of the chemical reactor and the two or more tubes that are internally heated located with the cavity.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for a solar-driven bio-refinery that may include a entrained-flow biomass feed system that is feedstock flexible via particle size control of the biomass. Some embodiments include a chemical reactor that receives concentrated solar thermal energy from an array of heliostats. The entrained-flow biomass feed system can use an entrainment carrier gas and supplies a variety of biomass sources fed as particles into the solar-driven chemical reactor. Biomass sources in a raw state or partially torrified state may be used, as long as parameters such as particle size of the biomass are controlled. Additionally, concentrated solar thermal energy can drive gasification of the particles. An on-site fuel synthesis reactor may receive the hydrogen and carbon monoxide products from the gasification reaction use the hydrogen and carbon monoxide products in a hydrocarbon fuel synthesis process to create a liquid hydrocarbon fuel.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for a solar-driven chemical plant are disclosed. Some embodiments may include a solar thermal receiver to absorb concentrated solar energy from an array of heliostats and a solar-driven chemical reactor. This chemical reactor may have multiple reactor tubes, in which particles of biomass may be gasified in the presence of a carrier gas in a gasification reaction to produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide products. High heat transfer rates of the walls and tubes may allow the particles of biomass to achieve a high enough temperature necessary for substantial tar destruction and complete gasification of greater than 90 percent of the biomass particles into reaction products including hydrogen and carbon monoxide gas in a very short residence time between a range of 0.01 and 5 seconds.

Abstract: An integrated plant generates syngas from biomass, where the integrated plant includes a Thermo Mechanical Pulping (TMP) process, a biomass gasifier, a methanol synthesis process, and a liquid fuel generation process. Biomass is received as a feedstock in the TMP process. The biomass is pre-treated in the TMP process for subsequent supply to the biomass gasifier by using a combination of heat, pressure, moisture, and mechanical agitation that are applied to the biomass to make the biomass into a pulp form. The TMP process breaks down a bulk structure of the received biomass, at least in part, by applying steam to degrade bonds between lignin and hemi-cellulose from cellulose fibers of the biomass. Next, the broken down particles of the biomass are reacted in a biomass gasification reaction at a temperature of greater than 700 degrees C. to create syngas components, which are fed to a methanol synthesis process.

Abstract: Various processes and apparatus are discussed for an ultra-high heat flux chemical reactor. A thermal receiver and the reactor tubes are aligned to 1) absorb and re-emit radiant energy, 2) highly reflect radiant energy, and 3) any combination of these, to maintain an operational temperature of the enclosed ultra-high heat flux chemical reactor. Particles of biomass are gasified in the presence of a steam carrier gas and methane in a simultaneous steam reformation and steam biomass gasification reaction to produce reaction products that include hydrogen and carbon monoxide gas using the ultra-high heat flux thermal energy radiated from the inner wall and then into the multiple reactor tubes. The multiple reactor tubes and cavity walls of the receiver transfer energy primarily by radiation absorption and re-radiation, rather than by convection or conduction, to the reactants in the chemical reaction to drive the endothermic chemical reaction flowing in the reactor tubes.

Abstract: An integrated plant that includes a steam explosion process unit and biomass gasifier to generate syngas from biomass. A steam explosion process unit applies a combination of heat, pressure, and moisture to the biomass to make the biomass into a moist fine particle form. The steam explosion process unit applies steam with a high pressure to heat and pressurize any gases and fluids present inside the biomass to internally blow apart the bulk structure of the biomass via a rapid depressurization of the biomass with the increased moisture content. Those produced moist fine particles of biomass are subsequently fed to a feed section of the biomass gasifier, which reacts the biomass particles in a rapid biomass gasification reaction to produce syngas components.

Abstract: A chemical plant includes a radiant heat-driven chemical reactor having generally concentric reactor tubes with an inner tube and an outer tube located inside a cavity of a thermal receiver. Particles of biomass, or natural gas, and an entrainment gas are fed into the inner tube near a bottom of the tube. The biomass and the entrainment gas flow upward through the inner tube into an upper plenum, and then flow downward through an annular space between the inner tube and the outer tube. The concentric reactor tubes and the thermal receiver are configured to cooperate such that heat is radiantly transferred by primarily absorption and re-radiation to drive the biomass gasification reaction or natural gas reformation reaction of reactants flowing through the reactor tubes in the vertical sections of the reactor, and turbulent flow and mixing of the reactants occurs in the upper plenum part of the reactor.

Abstract: An integrated plant that includes a steam explosion process unit and biomass gasifier to generate syngas from biomass is discussed. A steam explosion process unit applies a combination of heat, pressure, and moisture to the biomass to make the biomass into a moist fine particle form. The steam explosion process unit applies steam with a high pressure to heat and pressurize any gases and fluids present inside the biomass to internally blow apart the bulk structure of the biomass via a rapid depressurization of the biomass with the increased moisture content. Those produced moist fine particles of biomass are subsequently fed to a feed section of the biomass gasifier, which reacts the biomass particles in a rapid biomass gasification reaction to produce syngas components.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for solar-driven chemical plant may include a solar thermal receiver to absorb concentrated solar energy from an array of heliostats. Additionally, some embodiments may include a solar driven chemical reactor that has multiple reactor tubes. The concentrated solar energy drives the endothermic gasification reaction of the particles of biomass flowing through the reactor tubes. Some embodiments may also include an on-site fuel synthesis reactor that is geographically located on the same site as the chemical reactor and integrated to receive the hydrogen and carbon monoxide products from the gasification reaction.

Abstract: A radiant heat-driven chemical reactor comprising a generally cylindrical pressure refractory lined vessel, a plurality of radiant heating tubes, and a metal tube sheet to form a seal for the pressure refractory lined vessel near a top end of the pressure refractory lined vessel. The metal tube sheet has a plurality of injection ports extending vertically through the metal tube sheet and into the refractory lined vessel such that biomass is injected at an upper end of the vessel between the radiant heating tubes, and the radiant heat is supplied to an interior of the plurality of radiant heating tubes. The radiant heat-driven chemical reactor is configured to 1) gasify particles of biomass in a presence of steam (H2O) to produce a low CO2 synthesis gas that includes hydrogen and carbon monoxide gas, or 2) reform natural gas in a non-catalytic reformation reaction, using thermal energy from the radiant heat.

Abstract: Heat-transfer-aid particles entrained with 1) biomass particles, 2) reactant gas, or 3) both are fed into the radiant heat chemical reactor. The inner wall of a cavity and the tubes of the chemical reactor act as radiation distributors by either absorbing radiation and re-radiating it to the heat-transfer-aid particles or reflecting the incident radiation to the heat-transfer-aid particles. The radiation is absorbed by the heat-transfer-aid particles, and the heat is then transferred by conduction to the reacting gas at temperatures between 900° C. and 1600° C. The heat-transfer-aid particles mix with the reactant gas in the radiant heat chemical reactor to sustain the reaction temperature and heat transfer rate to stay within a pyrolysis regime. The heat-transfer-aid particles produce a sufficient heat surface-area to mass ratio of these particles when dispersed with the reactant gas to stay within the pyrolysis regime during the chemical reaction.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for a solar-driven chemical plant that may include a solar thermal receiver having a cavity with an inner wall, where the solar thermal receiver is aligned to absorb concentrated solar energy from one or more of 1) an array of heliostats, 2) solar concentrating dishes, and 3) any combination of the two. Some embodiments may include a solar-driven chemical reactor having multiple reactor tubes located inside the cavity of solar thermal receiver, wherein a chemical reaction driven by radiant heat occurs in the multiple reactor tubes, and wherein particles of biomass are gasified in the presence of a steam (H2O) carrier gas and methane (CH4) in a simultaneous steam reformation and steam biomass gasification reaction to produce reaction products that include hydrogen and carbon monoxide gas using the solar thermal energy from the absorbed concentrated solar energy in the multiple reactor tubes.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for a solar-driven chemical plant are disclosed. An embodiment may include a solar thermal receiver aligned to absorb concentrated solar energy from one or more solar energy concentrating fields. A solar driven chemical reactor may include multiple reactor tubes located inside the solar thermal receiver. The multiple reactor tubes can be used to gasify particles of biomass in the presence of a carrier gas. The gasification reaction may produce reaction products that include hydrogen and carbon monoxide gas having an exit temperature from the tubes exceeding 1000 degrees C. An embodiment can include a quench zone immediately downstream of an exit of the chemical reactor. The quench zone may immediately quench via rapid cooling of at least the hydrogen and carbon monoxide reaction products within 0.1-10 seconds of exiting the chemical reactor to a temperature of 800 degrees C. or less.

Abstract: An integrated plant is provided to improve carbon utilization of carbon molecules from gasified woody biomass to be converted into methanol. Detectors ensure a minimized sulfur content of less than 0.05% by dry weight of the woody biomass. A biomass gasifier reacts woody biomass in a rapid gasification reaction to produce a syngas composition having a ratio of hydrogen to carbon dioxide that is higher than needed for methanol synthesis. Parallel to the gasifier, a hydrocarbon reforming reactor provides a syngas composition having a ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide that is higher than needed for methanol synthesis. The combined syngas mixture from the biomass gasifier and the hydrocarbon reforming reactor comprises feed to a methanol synthesis plant, such that a majority of the carbon dioxide produced by the biomass gasification reaction and the hydrogen produced by the hydrocarbon reforming reactor are synthesized into methanol.